Qantas Data Breach Explained: What Was Stolen, Airline Response, and What Customers Should Do

[johny899]

It is never enjoyable to receive notice that your private data may have been compromised. This has become a reality for many Qantas customers. Qantas has confirmed there was a cyber breach that allowed hackers to compromise their call centre's computer systems. The breach impacted millions of customers.

When I first heard about this incident, I immediately wondered if this could happen to anyone. Unfortunately, it seems we all face threats similar to this.

What Information Was Compromised?​

In a nutshell, hackers were able to access a database containing customer information. All of the below items may have been taken from your account:

• Names.
• Email addresses.
• Phone numbers.
• Birth dates.
• Frequent flyer account numbers/statuses.
• Home address (may or may not be included).
• Meal preference (may or may not be included).

As you can see, this is cause for concern. However, the good news is that your credit card number, password, passport number, and bank account information were not compromised in the Qantas data breach. While this will lessen the potential for risk, it is not going to eliminate it.

How Has Qantas Responded to This Incident?​

According to Qantas, the airline discovered the issue quickly and took immediate action to address it. The company has partnered with cybersecurity experts and has been in contact with all customers who were impacted by this crime. Furthermore, the airline has reported that all operations, including flight operations, were safe and operating as usual.

While the airline has assured customers that their frequent flyer accounts are safe from compromise (the breach did not involve login credentials), it is understandable that customers may still be feeling apprehensive.

What You Need to Do Now​

If you're a customer of Qantas and/or are utilizing their services, please take the following steps:

• Keep an eye on your email and text messages from Qantas.
• Be careful about any unsolicited phone calls or emails requesting personal information.
• Monitor your bank account for any unusual transactions.

Data breaches are reminders that one must always be vigilant; even small amounts of caution today can save major headaches down the road.